Katherine D. Tillman, "Seeking the Lost" (1902)
Many Negro newspapers have from time to time
maintained a "Lost" column, for the purpose of
bringing together families that were sold apart
during the period of American slavery.
Is you de blessed editor
Dat brings de dead to life,
United sons an' darters,
An' husban's wid dere wife?
You is! Well I'se ole Mose,
I hails from Virginny,
I'se huntin' fer my long-los' folks,
Ole ooman' an' little Winnie.
On de banks ob de Missippy,
In ole Missouri State,
'Twas dar dey took my wife
When we fus' separate.
My other two chillen was boys,
Dey's livin' now wid me.
Ef I can fin' my wife an' gal,
How happy we will be.
I don' min' de money
I wants my wife an' chile,
I want to see my folks
I'se mourned for dis long while.
You don't know de sorrow
Dat's filled my heart for y'ars,
Nor de days an' nites da
I's spent in bitter tears.
My wife's name was Mandy,
An' sah, she was a cook,
An' one ob de fines',
Do' she don' use no book.
Why, Kernel Butler sed her cakes
Was fit for any king,
An' comp'ny time she was de one
Dat heaven's gates jes' opened wide
An' den she was a powah in prayer,
Fer when she prayed it seem
Dat heaven's gates jes' opened wide,
On all our souls to beam.
What made 'em sell her? Easy tole,
Dey cleared up de estate
At master's death an' all was sole
An' 'bliged to separate.
Li'l Winnie was de baby then,
'Twas thirty years or mo.'
Ef libin', she's a woman now,
An' Mandy's head's lak sno'.
Tink you kno' 'em? Winnie's yo wife,
Mandy's libin' in dis yeah town!
Praise de Lawd, an' you, too, mister!
Ole Mose' po' los' lams is foun'!
Published in Tillman's Recitations, 1902